Cottman Transmission, MADD and NASCAR Winston Cup Driver Jeff Burton Partner to Protect Children With Bicycle Helmet Safety Promotion
FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., April 1 -- NASCAR Winston Cup driver Jeff Burton, one of the sport's leading advocates of safety, along with sponsor Cottman Transmission, announced Saturday a nationwide bicycle safety helmet promotion with proceeds to support Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). During the announcement, which was held at Texas Motor Speedway, Cottman Transmission presented MADD an initial contribution of $20,000 on behalf of its 350 Centers nationwide.
From April 1 until July 1, Cottman Transmission, with locations in 41 states across the U.S., will offer a free bicycle helmet with any major transmission repair. Customers can also purchase the Cottman-branded helmet for only $1.99 with a transmission fluid change for their vehicle. For every helmet distributed through the Cottman promotion, $1 will be donated to MADD. Funds from the bicycle helmet promotion will directly assist MADD's "Protecting You, Protecting Me" (PY/PM) elementary alcohol prevention curriculum (for grades one through five), and will be promoted through schools participating in PY/PM and MADD's multimedia school assembly presentations.
"Cottman dealers wanted a promotion that could positively impact their local communities, and with this program, we feel we are accomplishing that," said Todd Leff, president of Cottman Transmission, North America's fastest growing chain of transmission repair centers which was established in 1962.
Burton, the popular driver of the No. 99 Roush Racing Ford, who has 17 career Winston Cup victories, is a leader in a variety of safety initiatives within stock car racing. He is constantly seeking new and better ways to enhance safety measures for drivers, crews, fans and all others involved. "In order to keep our children safe, we have to make sure we are giving them the appropriate safety equipment," said Burton, a father of two.
MADD is a non-profit grassroots organization with 600 affiliates and approximately two million members and supporters nationwide. MADD's prevention efforts focus on drunk driving and underage drinking, and these efforts have helped save nearly 250,000 lives since the organization was founded in 1980.
"With partners like Cottman Transmission, MADD is able to reach young people with important messages that will help keep them safe," said Dean Wilkerson, MADD national executive director.
For more information on the nationwide Cottman Transmission promotion, visit www.cottman.com. For more information on MADD, visit their website at www.madd.org.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030401/PHTU035AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840